Athlete s supporter



(No Model.)

J. E. DOLDT.

ATHLETES SUPPORTER.

N0. 532,727. Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOB W @066;

I A BY ATTO R N EYL UNITED STA-Tits PATENT OFFICE.

\JOHN E. DOLDT, O EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ATHLETES SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPaitent No. 532,727, dated January 15, 1895.

Application filed October 20, 1894, Serial No. 526,510. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-v

Be it known that I, JOHN E. DOLDT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at East Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Athletes Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to apparel or garments adapted to the use of athletes and others, and more particularly to a bandage or brace known commonly'as an athletes supporter.

The most common form of athletes supporter is in the nature of a trunk completely surrounding the hips, the whole being held in place on the wearer by a lacing extending vertically at the front of the garment. The objections to this form of garment lie notably in the fact that it is too much of a covering and impedes a free movement of the legs and hips; in the fact thateach garment must perfectly fit the wearer, thus requiring them to be made in a large number of sizes; and in the fact that they can only be tightened by drawing them, through the lacing, more closely around the hips instead of vertically on opposite sides of the body. I

The present invention is designed to overcome these objections and also to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive garment, a single garment being adapted to any sized person, and capable of being worn beneath or over the Wearersclothes and having a simple securing means acting by a single adjustment to draw and stretch the garment tightly in every direction around the wearer.

Having these objects in view the improvement consists in the novel form and arrangement hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical form of the improvements, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved athletes supporter shown in the position it would occupy if on the wearer and the manner it is secured in position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view thereof; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the athletes supporter in its distended condition.

Theimproved athletes supporter is formed by a body portion A wider at the front on than at its rear 11 and contracted at a near its center to pass between the legs of the wearer.

connected to astrap or band d or has oppo sitely projecting ends which perform the same function; and the rear portion has a pair of strings or tapes e of sufficient length to pass around the waist of the wearer. The band d upon opposite sides of the body portion has eyes or eyelets f through which the strings or tapes 6 are passed in securing the athletes supporter to the wearer; and the band cl may also have loops 9 in line with the edge of the body portion A and through which the strings or tapes 6 may pass to better exert a direct upward draw upon the front of the athletes supporter and thus tighten it more closely to the wearer. The band (1 instead of terminating about half round the person may be continued as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that its ends may meet at the back and be secured by any proper fastening device-or means.

In putting the athletes supporter on the.

wearer, the ends of the two strings or tapes e are entered through the eyelets f, and the legs of the wearer are projected through the spaces between the strings or tapes, and the body portion A, with its wider end toward the front. As soon as the athletes supporter is in place the two strings one-upon each side of the wearer are pulled tightly to the back, crossed around the back and then led to the front where they are tied tightly together. When the loops 9 are used the ends of the strings or tapes e when brought around to the front are passed through the loops before being tied together.

From the foregoing it will be noticed that theaction of the strings or tapes 6 is two-fold,

that is to say, they not on y draw the front and rear portions of the athletes supporter vertically, but also draw or spread the front and rear portions and tightly draw the band 01 horizontally around the wearer. This simple arrangement renders the garment very easily applied and removed and by the single operation of tying the garment in place draws it snugly in all directions close to the person.

The strings or tapes of the athletes supporterare carried upward over the hip bone and hence no part of the garment covers the hips to impede freedom of movement. Its exceeding simplicity renders it possible to make it cheaply and sell it for a minimum price. Its most important characteristic lies in its adaptability to all sized persons, so that a single pattern of onesize is suited to persons varying in weight from one hundred and thirty pounds'to two hundred and twenty-five pounds, as I have found by practical experience.

While I have specified the use of the improved athletes supporter to athletes, its use is not limited thereto as it is obvious to those familiar with such garments that there are a large class of persons who need and wear similar articles.

What I claim is- 1. An athletes supporter comprising a supporting band having an eye at each corner of one end thereof, and an independent tape at In witness whereof I have hereunto signed 0 my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. DOLDT.

Witnesses:

FRANK II. TAYLOR, GEO. IT. GRAHAM. 

